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Gender Roles In Things Fall Apart

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A single syllable declared by a nurse at birth hinders the entire future of individuals from the very first moment they enter this world. Be it a boy, the parents, beaming with pride, may begin to pick out shades of blue for the nursery, and fill its walls with toys trucks and army men. They dream of raising a strong and righteous man with aspirations filled with duty and intellect. Be it a girl, they fondle her as glimpses of the subsequent pink bedspreads and dainty dolls flash in their eyes. The thought of eventually giving her away to a man to become a nurturing mother brings comfort and bittersweet tears to their eyes. Instantaneously, gender narrows downs the possible life paths of this child by excluding those which do not fill its gender …show more content…

Things Fall Apart takes place during the European imperial era in Africa. In traditional Igbo culture, it is accentuated that one is not a man unless he is fearless, strong, and aggressive; whereas the terms womanly and cowardly are interchangeable. Men are meant to be strong, assertive, and dominant, while women take care of the household and family. In Africa, women are last to be educated to gain access to well-paying positions (“Gender”). This demonstrates how women were treated like second class citizens and not encouraged or allowed an education. Stereotypes like these are present in Things Fall Apart to reveal the damage caused from restricting individuals and outcasting those are …show more content…

For example, Nwoye possesses a remarkable ability to sympathize. His innocent nature causes him to be baffled by the recurrent brutalities carried out around him. He is Okonkwo’s son, his legacy, as gender roles dictate, and his effeminate traits were accepted as a curse. Okonkwo disowns him for “he, Okonkwo, was called flaming fire. How could he have begotten a woman for a son?” (C. Achebe 123). In this case, fire symbolizes masculinity and Okonkwo is angered that his son is a disappointment with disgraceful, effeminate traits. Another character who strayed from traditional gender stereotypes is Unoka. Okonkwo and the village look down on him. Okonkwo’s father was lazy, cowardly and could not support himself or his family. This destroys the masculine image set by stereotypes, so he is shunned as an reject for failing to fill his role as a man. This is what helps Okonkwo create such a rigid definition of gender stereotypes because of society's reaction to Unoka’s actions. Achebe displays the inflexibly and consequences for those like Nwoye and Unoka who question and defy stereotypes in Things Fall Apart. This limits and prohibits the feats they can achieve without the acceptance of others. Members of society that find that they do not fit under specific gender stereotypes will face similar consequences, and contribute to the limitation of

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Throughout Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, the authors' claim of "balance" within the Igbo tribe is invalid. Although one may view that women and men existing in this society as balanced due to the fact that both the men and women have a particular part in the general public; The men hunt for dinner, while the ladies prepare the meals and care after the kids. However, through close reading, the society is actually imbalance. While the women are living oppressed, the men are holding positions of high power. The women in the tribe not only being socially oppressed by men of high authority, but also physically and emotionally abused by men in their home who likewise holds power.

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895 Words | 4 Pages

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878 Words | 4 Pages

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